Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Journal

Kashan, Iran’s long-lasting legacy as a major hub of artistic innovation and influence in the Middle East began around the early 12th century. Kashani ceramicists are credited with perfecting the practice of glazed fritware, with unrivaled production at an industrial scale as well as artistic paramount of the medium. UCSB’s AD&A Museum collection contains several Kashani ceramic vessels, allowing us to bear witness to one of the most historically rich regions in the world through the lens of the artisans. However, the vessels in the museum’s collection have very little provenance or research attached to them. The goals of this research are to first build a foundation of knowledge surrounding the creation of this type of vessel, then identify key aspects of the Kashani ceramic pitcher through close visual analysis that link it to other ceramic vessels of the time. In doing so, this allows us to contemplate the significance of these vessels and their influence on other Middle Eastern artistic traditions and techniques, as well as give historical and political context surrounding its production to examine how the value of desirable forms change through time and place.